# NTSB SEA00LA076: Cessna 140, N3579V, Red Lodge, MT, April 21, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 21, 2000, 10:50 local (16:50 UTC) - Place: Red Lodge, MT - Coordinates: 45.190891, -109.240203 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1909&lon=-109.2402&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 9, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49038 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA00LA076 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49038/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA00LA076 ## Probable cause A high density altitude and inadequate preflight planning/preparation. Not attaining a proper climb rate, not maintaining a proper runway alignment, and gusting wind conditions were factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, takeoff - weather condition - high density altitude (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Gear collapsed, takeoff - aborted - proper climb rate - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, the airplane attained an altitude of about five feet and began to drift to the right due to a gust of wind from the left. The pilot corrected with rudder control, however, the airplane continued to drift and would not accelerate or climb as expected. The pilot opted to reduce power and land next to the runway. During the landing roll, the left main landing gear collapsed. The pilot had calculated the density altitude at about 6,267 feet. He also utilized the aircraft's performance data to calculate the takeoff distance and climb rate. The data however, was based upon the installation of a standard propeller. The aircraft was equipped with a cruise pitch propeller. The pilot reported that he felt that the reason why the aircraft would not accelerate and climb as expected, was due to the cruise pitch propeller. ## Factual narrative On April 21, 2000, at 1050 mountain daylight time, a Cessna 140, N3579V, registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collapsed the left main landing gear during takeoff from the Red Lodge airport, Red Lodge, Montana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged and the airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. During a telephone interview and subsequent written statement, the pilot reported that he had just fueled the airplane and was taking off on runway 16 for the next leg of his cross country flight to Casper, Wyoming. The wind was a quartering headwind from the left at about five to 10 knots, with gusts to 15 knots. The pilot stated that during the takeoff ground roll, the tail came up and the airplane lifted off at about 50 mph. The airplane attained an altitude of about five feet when it began to drift to the right due to a gust of wind from the left. The pilot corrected with rudder control, however, the airplane continued to drift to the right and would not accelerate or climb as expected. The pilot reported that the airplane would not clear the fence to the right of the runway, and he opted to reduce power and land to the right side of the runway. During the landing roll, while turning to avoid a collision with a fence, the left main landing gear collapsed. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions, and that the engine was producing full power. At the time of the accident, Red Lodge was not reporting the weather. The surface observations for Billings, Montana, located approximately 45 nautical miles northeast, was reporting at 0956, a temperature of 57 degrees, with an altimeter setting of 30.03" Hg. Density altitude calculated for the field elevation at Red Lodge of 5,763 feet, under the conditions reported from Billings, was approximately 6,864 feet. The pilot reported that he calculated a density altitude of 6,267 feet utilizing the altimeter setting from Billings of 30.04" Hg, and a temperature of approximately 50 degrees. The pilot then calculated via the Cessna 140 performance data, which is based upon a gross weight of 1,450 pounds and a standard Sensenich 74FK-49 propeller, at 6,000 feet, a takeoff distance of 1,343 feet, and a normal climb rate of 365 fpm. (see attached performance information) The aircraft, however, was equipped with a McCauley CM 7150 cruise pitch propeller. The pilot stated that he felt that the reason why the aircraft would not accelerate and climb as expected, was due to the cruise pitch propeller. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3579V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3579V), registered now, S/N 14748, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 140 - Registry model: [Cessna 140](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-140) (registry code 2071602) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C90 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (registry code 17009, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 14748 - Airframe hours: 5045 - Engines: Continental C90-12F 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Bill J. Harris - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 27, 2000, 28 hours before - Destination: CPR, CASPER, WY - Airport: RED, Red Lodge, runway 16, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,942 total, 28 in this make and model, 2,169 as pilot in command, 111 in the last 90 days, 49 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 10 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000421008259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000421008259A), Apr 21, 2000: Cessna 140, Red Lodge, MT, No damage. (-23) Pilot in command stated on takeoff, rwy. 16, Red Lodge, Montana, winds 20 left at 5-10 mph. As the aircraft accelerated to 50 mph, the aircraft began to… ## Other investigations on N3579V (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB ANC99LA089](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA089), Jul 4, 1999: Cessna 140 (N3579V), Sitka, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for crosswind conditions. Factors in the accident were a crosswind, and the pilot's lack of total experience in the type of airplane. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.